China’s fresh GDF-600 fast weapon could redefine war with its strong, multi-target strike and electric assault capabilities, posing a serious challenge to Taiwan and US forces in the Pacific.
The Guangdong Aerodynamic Research Academy ( GARA ) at the Zhuhai Airshow unveiled its new concept for an unpowered hypersonic boost-glide weapon this month, according to The War Zone.
The fast car, which can achieve speeds up to Mach 7 and ranges between 200 and 600 meters, can take several submunitions, including sonic rockets, drones and loitering munitions.
The report says that the GDF-600’s ability to release these payloads mid-flight enhances its operational versatility, allowing it to conduct kinetic strikes, electronic warfare ( EW ) and reconnaissance across multiple targets.
The War Zone does, however, point out that payload deployment at fast speeds still poses major technical problems. The report underscores China’s continuing investment in fast systems, contrasting with the US government’s challenges with similar techniques.
The document says that the GDF-600, if realized, was substantially boost China’s fast army, especially in local circumstances like the Taiwan Strait or South China Sea.
EW weapons could potentially interfere with enemy radar and communications, making protective responses more difficult and time-consuming. The HGV’s ability to neutralize military targets would also be enhanced by the mid-flight rollout of EW assets.
On the type of EW weapons that could be deployed on the GDF-600, a June 2021 report by the EMP Task Force on National and Homeland Security states that non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse ( NNEMP ) weapons, or radio-frequency weapons, are accessible, affordable and can be constructed using commercially available components, making them a viable tool for state and non-state actors alike.
It says such weapons, small enough to fit in a backpack or mountain on drones and trucks, could remove vital system components, leading to protracted power outages. Military bases, which rely on the human network for 99 % of their power, could experience nationwide trickling blackouts if one NNEMP attack hits fewer than 100 converter substations.
According to the report, countries like Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran are working on developing or having NNEMP functions, with some countries having the potential to start attacks using robots or tankers.
It says the ease of NNEMP merger, and the little labor required for implementation, raise the risk of these weapons being used against US infrastructure, potentially catastrophic both civil and military systems in an extraordinary “blackout warfare” scenario.
China’s use of NNEMP weapons may resolve a potential conflict with EMP weapons. In a July 2024 article for the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, Tin Pak mentions how China views high-altitude electromagnetic pulse ( HEMP ) weapons as a form of cyber warfare.
This could lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons, which have significant HEMP effects. The same results could be obtained by using an NNEMP weapon without introducing a nuclear escalation risk.
In a March 2024 Proceedings article, James Anderson mentions that China might choose to launch an NNEMP” shock and awe” attack on Taiwan to cripple its own-governing island’s communication networks, delaying Taiwan’s morale in the process, and possibly putting its leaders in capitulation.
However, in April 2023, Asia Times  reported that Taiwan has raised concerns about a potential Chinese invasion by fortifying a crucial missile command center against HEMP attacks.
The Taiwanese Navy has reinforced the Gangping Camp in New Taipei City’s Sanzhi District, a critical facility for the Haifeng Brigade’s anti-ship missile unit, to withstand HEMP attacks.
The facility has a shielding room built to withstand the US military’s nuclear protection requirements, which can lower electromagnetic wave force from 50, 000 volts per meter to just 5 volts per meter.
As with Taiwan, the US military faces a significant threat from an EMP attack. Joshua Owen mentions that the US military would face significant operational challenges in the wake of a military-reliant civilian electric grid in an article from February 2023 Proceedings.
Owen says communication systems, vehicles, and other critical equipment could be rendered inoperable, severely hampering command and control capabilities. He highlights, in particular, the vulnerability of military bases, which lack sufficient hardening against EMPs, and the potential for a long-term blackout to disrupt logistics, food and water supplies.
He points out that the need for proactive measures to counteract such attacks is highlighted by the lack of preparation and the possibility of human desperation and chaos.
Additionally, Ronald McKinney Jr discusses the significant threat that EMP attacks on crucial US infrastructure in a February 2024 article for Wild Blue Yonder.
McKinney Jr says the US power grid, telecommunications, water supply and other essential services are particularly vulnerable. He points out that widespread chaos and economic harm could result from a significant EMP event that would temporarily disable these systems.
He demonstrates how interconnected US infrastructure is, causing a cascading effect that could lead to a broader systemic collapse when one or more of its key components fail.
He also makes note of the possibility of a similar disruptive attack, which might include nuclear detonations, sophisticated cyberattacks, or NNEMP weapons.
However, Jeff Schogol mentions that because of the high likelihood of US nuclear retaliation, an adversary is unlikely to use an EMP attack alone in a Task &, Purpose article from September 2022. Given the significant escalation risks, he claims an EMP attack would most likely be a part of a larger nuclear assault.
Schogol identifies the risks of an EMP attack, noting that the damage to electronic devices would depend on a number of factors, including their protection and orientation. He points out that while an EMP could cause significant power outages, the extent of long-term damage is uncertain.
He adds that the US military regularly conducts exercises to ensure that it can maintain command and control in the event of an EMP attack, with facilities like Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station built to withstand such circumstances. This includes USNORTHCOM, NORAD, and NORAD.
Schogol concludes that despite the seriousness of an EMP attack, its efficacy and potential use alone are questioned.